Gurdwara Bhai Phero: Difference between revisions

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The town woth the name of Bhai Phero is situated at.a distance of Sixty Kilometers from Lahore on Lahore-Multan road. Gurdwara Bhai Phero stands majestically at the end of Local Anarkali Market. The real name of Bhai Phero was Sangtia. Once Sangtia was carrying his oil skins full of ghee to Kartarpur. One of the followers of Guru Har Rai Ji purchased the ghee from him and asked him to collect the money on the following day. Sangtia Ji emptied these oil skins. Next day he found his water-skins still full of ghee like before. Witnessing this miracle he came to Gur Dev Ji and became a follower of Guru Har Rai Ji. Guru Dev Ji converted him and changed his name to "Bhai Phero" which became popular. Guru Dev Ji appointed him as the collector of Nakka area. When misappropriation of funds by the Collectors came to limelight, a thorough check was ordered. It was found that only Bhai 'hero had maintained the account honestly and scru ulously. Guru Ji prayed for the continuation of his langar. Bhai Phero died in this area of Nakka and later a samadh was built there. A town was built around it which became known as Bhai Phero.
'''Gurdwara Bhai Phero''' stands majestically at the end of the local Anarkali Market in the town which has also taken the name of Bhai Phero. Both are situated sixty kilometers from Lahore on the Lahore-Multan road presently in in Pakistan.  
The present building of Gurdwara was built by Mahant in collaboration with the local Sangat in 1910 AD. According to the agreement reached on 21st Dec 1922 AD, the responsibility of maintenance of Gurdwara was handed over to Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee by Mahant on 28th December 1922 AD.
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The Committee sanctioned a monthly allowance of Rs.400 for the Mahant. On 7 December 1923 AD, manager Jagat Singh and 10 other Sikhs were arrested due to the dispute over the occupation of land, 34 Akalis were arrested on the 2nd of January. Regular arrests were offered from 5th January onwards. The agitation was called off due to a murder which took place on 20th December 1925 AD.
 
2200 acres of land is attached to the Gurdwara. The building is in good conditioh because the Evacuee Trust Board got it repaired and rebuilt the collapsed roof in 1995 AD. Ten shops adjacent to the Gurdwara have been rented out.
==Who was Bhai Phero==
The Samadh of Bhai Phero is located just beside the entrance of the Gurdwara and you have to get down 5 steps to get inside it. Diwan (assembly) Hall is in front of Samadh, where Nishan Sahib remains hoisted.
 
[[Category:Gurdwaras in Pakistan]]
see: [[Bhai Phero]]
 
==A Gurdwara Constructed==
The present  Gurdwara was built by the then [[Mahant]]  in collaboration with the local Sangat in 1910.
 
Though the word Mahant seems similar to Masand, (at least to my 'western' ear) the Mahants were men, often Hindus - at first very sympathetic to the Sikhs, who had been entrusted with managing Gurdwaras, since the days when having a turban and untrimmed beard was the same as having a death warrant on one's head. Under the British , who did not see a strong Sikh revival in their best interests, many Mahants, especially  after the turn of the century had taken to seeing themselves as the hereditary owners of the Gurdwaras, the  Gurdwaras' lands and funds; with many even going so far as to include murtis, Nauch girls and debauchery in the Guru's (the SGGS) and Waheguru's Earthly Doorways. Practices considered very beadabi to Sikhs. That they fought this practice in India's first peaceful morcha, ''only on their part (as thousands were brutally killed or wounded during the protests'', is a great credit to the teachings of Guru Nanak and the other Sikh Padshahs.  
 
''See [[Origin of non violence]] for more reading on the movement for the Sikhs to regain control of their own houses of worship. Only in todays 'Tibet' can I even think of a similar situation where foreigners have taken control of another Religions' places of worship.''
 
According to the agreement reached on 21st Dec 1922, the responsibility of maintenance of the Gurdwara was handed over to the Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee by the Mahant on 28th December 1922.
The Gurdwara's caretaker was not one of the many who had not disgraced their Gurdwara and Sangat, as the Committee sanctioned a monthly allowance of Rs.400 for the Mahant.
 
==But, less than a year later==
On 7 December 1923, manager Jagat Singh and 10 other Sikhs were arrested due to a dispute over the occupation of the Gurdwara's land, 34 Akalis were arrested on the 2nd of January. Regular arrests occured from 5th January onwards. The agitation was called off due to a murder which took place on 20th December 1925.
 
==Since the Partition==
Today 2200 acres of land is attached to the Gurdwara's holdings. The building is in good condition thanks to the Evacuee Trust Board's  having  its roof rebuilt in 1995 after its collapse. Ten shops, adjacent to the Gurdwara, have been rented out bringing in additional funds to the Gurdwara.
 
The Samadh of Bhai Phero is located just beside the entrance of the Gurdwara. As at the Golden Temple one  enters the Samadh by decending, here  5 steps.  
 
The Diwan (assembly) Hall is in front of the Samadh, where the Nishan Sahib remains proudly hoisted.
 
[[Category:Gurdwaras in Kasur district]]
[[Category:Pakistan]]
[[Category:Pakistan]]

Latest revision as of 05:57, 1 June 2008

Gurdwara Bhai Phero stands majestically at the end of the local Anarkali Market in the town which has also taken the name of Bhai Phero. Both are situated sixty kilometers from Lahore on the Lahore-Multan road presently in in Pakistan.

Who was Bhai Phero

see: Bhai Phero

A Gurdwara Constructed

The present Gurdwara was built by the then Mahant in collaboration with the local Sangat in 1910.

Though the word Mahant seems similar to Masand, (at least to my 'western' ear) the Mahants were men, often Hindus - at first very sympathetic to the Sikhs, who had been entrusted with managing Gurdwaras, since the days when having a turban and untrimmed beard was the same as having a death warrant on one's head. Under the British , who did not see a strong Sikh revival in their best interests, many Mahants, especially after the turn of the century had taken to seeing themselves as the hereditary owners of the Gurdwaras, the Gurdwaras' lands and funds; with many even going so far as to include murtis, Nauch girls and debauchery in the Guru's (the SGGS) and Waheguru's Earthly Doorways. Practices considered very beadabi to Sikhs. That they fought this practice in India's first peaceful morcha, only on their part (as thousands were brutally killed or wounded during the protests, is a great credit to the teachings of Guru Nanak and the other Sikh Padshahs.

See Origin of non violence for more reading on the movement for the Sikhs to regain control of their own houses of worship. Only in todays 'Tibet' can I even think of a similar situation where foreigners have taken control of another Religions' places of worship.

According to the agreement reached on 21st Dec 1922, the responsibility of maintenance of the Gurdwara was handed over to the Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee by the Mahant on 28th December 1922. The Gurdwara's caretaker was not one of the many who had not disgraced their Gurdwara and Sangat, as the Committee sanctioned a monthly allowance of Rs.400 for the Mahant.

But, less than a year later

On 7 December 1923, manager Jagat Singh and 10 other Sikhs were arrested due to a dispute over the occupation of the Gurdwara's land, 34 Akalis were arrested on the 2nd of January. Regular arrests occured from 5th January onwards. The agitation was called off due to a murder which took place on 20th December 1925.

Since the Partition

Today 2200 acres of land is attached to the Gurdwara's holdings. The building is in good condition thanks to the Evacuee Trust Board's having its roof rebuilt in 1995 after its collapse. Ten shops, adjacent to the Gurdwara, have been rented out bringing in additional funds to the Gurdwara.

The Samadh of Bhai Phero is located just beside the entrance of the Gurdwara. As at the Golden Temple one enters the Samadh by decending, here 5 steps.

The Diwan (assembly) Hall is in front of the Samadh, where the Nishan Sahib remains proudly hoisted.